64bit internet explorer !?

M

msx

Weaksauce
Joined
Feb 5, 2011
Messages
69
what's with ie 64bit? why don't people use it more, something wrong with it?
 
64-bit IE exists for a couple of reasons, firstly MS ported on the basis of porting everything that was included with the OS and then adding back 32-bit versions where needed. Secondly many apps embed the internet explorer and you can only embed 32-bit in 32-bit and 64-bit in 64-bit.

However for general browsing a 32-bit browser IE is preferred because it allows the use of 32-bit plugins for things like flash and java.
 
The 64 bit browser requires 64 bit plugins, as just noted in the post above. There is a 64 bit beta of Flashplayer available (codenamed "Square") and you can get some Java SDK tools that are 64 bit as well, but in general, using the 64 bit version of IE isn't that big of a deal.

It's not like your browsing will be "twice as fast" but, it can be a bit better from a performance perspective, just not that much. :)
 
better question might be why douse any one use internet explorer.
doesn't mater what 3rd party browser you use to replace it anything is better then that pos
 
War Zone said:
better question might be why douse any one use internet explorer.
doesn't mater what 3rd party browser you use to replace it anything is better then that pos
Click to expand...
Spoken like someone who hasn't used a version since 7.
 
x64 IE is also much slower at this point. I score like 180 ms in sunspider with IE9 x86, but 900+ ms with IE9 x64. Also the graphics tests at ietestdrive.com are somewhat slower in IE9 x64. But as others said, the main reason people don't use it is because only recently has flash been released for x64 IE, and many other plug-ins have not and probably won't be for a while. Hopefully, they fix the speed in x64 IE9 though, as I'd like to use it as my main browser.
 
Last time i tried to use x64 IE it seemed half baked, nothing like x86....but that could just be me. I use Chrome as a rule of thumb anyways...
 
msx said:
why don't they finish the thing?
Click to expand...

Finish what?

x64 IE is function equivalent to IE x86.

MS doesn't write the plug-ins, other than Silverlight, which actually doesn't have a 64-bit version yet. They will have x64 support in Silverlight version 5, but its still not due for a while...

I'm using the x64 version of IE8 as my primary browser. The 64-bit Flash plug-in is technically beta but I don't have the memory leak issues with it that I've seen with some pages with the x32 version under IE and Firefox.

The x64 version of Java is feature complete with the x86 version.

Only things I have problems with are Silverlight based streaming audio from some on-line radio stations, and HP virtual Rooms can't be instantiated from an x64 broswer since HP hasn't released a 64-bit plug-in. Webex works with no issues.

Everything else I use works just fine.
 
in other words for every day casual browsing its not good. i set it to the default browser once on the home pc.....wife kept calling me to ask why websites werent working....typical sites, nothing off the wall....it was x64 IE
 
nessus said:
Finish what?

x64 IE is function equivalent to IE x86.
Click to expand...

finish what?

how about make it work 100%?! i have a 64bit os and been waiting for 64bit internet browser for a long time...
 
If you absolutely must use a 64 bit browser, go grab the 64 bit Minefield/Firefox builds from:

http://nightly.mozilla.org/

You'll still encounter the same issues with plugins but at least you can install "Square" as I mentioned earlier and get Flash working, to whatever degree.

IE9 RC might appear on Thursday (February 10th) and if it does, expect x86 and x64 versions. I've got 9.00.8073.6003 installed (the last leak I could track down) and it's pretty damned snappy but, I just don't like the redesign so it'll be just like IE8 for me: installed, but most definitely not my primary browser. IE will never be that again...
 
I tried the 64-bit IE8 when I first got the x64 Windows 7 RC and it didn't work very well so I went back to x86 Win7. However, I've just reinstalled a new x64 Win7 with all current updates and it works much better.
 
msx said:
finish what?

how about make it work 100%?! i have a 64bit os and been waiting for 64bit internet browser for a long time...
Click to expand...

What about IE x64 doesn't work 100%? Give examples.

The browser is feature equivalent with IE x86. 3rd party plug-ins are not the browser itself.
 
It looks like some of may not realize that even if you are running a 64 bit version of windows 7, by default you are only using the x86 (32 bit) version of IE. Also, you can't set the x64 version of IE as the default browser. You can set IE as the default browser but its the 32 bit version not the 64 bit version. Hopefully when IE 9 goes final Microsoft will change that. To use the 64 bit version of IE you have to go to your start menu, all programs, and click the "Internet Explorer (64 bit)" Icon. Any other IE icon including the one on your task bar opens the 32 bit version. If you launch IE 64 bit and look under the programs tab in internet options, in the default browser section it says "Internet Explorer (64 bit) cannot be the default browser". I only mentioned this because it looks like a few of you that have posted in this thread may have thought they were using the 64 bit version but in reality it was the 32 bit version of IE. Windows 7 x64 has both versions.
 
Two reasons:

1. It's still IE.

2. You can only use 64-bit add-ons with it.

Also, it's not really needed. If my browser wanted to use more than 2GB of RAM, I would have it shot.
 
Last edited:
JimmiG said:
You can only use 64-bit add-ons with it.
Click to expand...
Do you complain your 32bit browser can't load 64bit plugins? No? Then why are you complaining a 64bit browser can't load 32bit plugins?

Every 64bit browser is like this, currently.

JimmiG said:
Also, it's not really needed. If my browser wanted to use more than 2GB of RAM, I would have it shot.
Click to expand...
Wait, you think the ONLY benefit of 64bit is being able to use more RAM? I really hope you aren't being serious...
 
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